Fullerton Extends Home Winning Streak With 84-63 Victory Over Utah Valley State

FULLERTON, CA -
Cal State Fullerton freshman Toni Thomas scored a career-high 27 points and led two teammates in double figures as the Titans won their sixth straight game at home with an 84-63 victory over visiting Utah Valley State on Thursday night at Titan Gym.

With the victory, Fullerton snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 6-12 overall and an impressive 6-1 at home in 2005-06. The Titans haven't lost at Titan Gym since their home opener against San Diego on Dec. 1.

It is the longest home winning streak since Cal State Fullerton won 12 straight at home during the 1990-91 season.

The Wolverines fell to 7-12 overall on the season with the loss.

Thomas, whose previous career best was 22 points against Cal Poly on Jan. 2, hit on 9-of-13 from the field (including a three-pointer) and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line to lead all scorers. She also added five rebounds and four steals in 24 minutes of play.

Junior guard Andrea Adams matched her season high with 18 points to go with a career high five steals in 34 minutes of play in only her third start of the year. She was joined in double figures by junior Charlee Underwood, who had 15 points and eight rebounds.

Utah Valley State had a pair of players tally double-doubles as leading scorer Robyn Fairbanks had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the squad and was joined by Miriam Palkki, who added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sandy Marvin also netted 10 points in the loss.

The Wolverines scored the first three baskets of the game before the Titans' offense began to click on all cylinders, exploding for a 14-2 run to take an eight-point lead with 14:11 remaining in the first half.

Fullerton increased its lead to 10 points with just over 12 minutes to go, but the offense went cold, held scoreless for just over five minutes as Utah Valley State closed to withing five points with just under six minutes to go in the period.

A three-pointer by Underwood snapped the Titans out of the drought, but the Wolverines wouldn't go away, closing to within five points twice in the final three minutes before a free throw by Adams and a basket by Tessa Moon gave Fullerton a 37-29 lead at the break.

Utah Valley State kept it close in the first part of the second half, whittling the Titans' lead down to four points with 17:14 remaining, but a 13-4 run by Fullerton over the next seven minutes put the game away as the Titans led by as many as 23 points en route to the victory.

Cal State Fullerton claimed the win despite being outshot 49 percent to 40 percent and outrebounded by a 44-35 tally. The Titans' defense forced the Wolverines into 38 turnovers for the game - leading to 22 steals and 35 Fullerton points.

The Titans continue their homestand on Saturday (Jan. 28) at 2 p.m. as they continue non-conference play against UC Davis at Titan Gym.